scholarly journals Role of smooth muscle activation in the static and dynamic mechanical characterization of human aortas

2022 ◽  
Vol 119 (3) ◽  
pp. e2117232119
Author(s):  
Giulio Franchini ◽  
Ivan D. Breslavsky ◽  
Francesco Giovanniello ◽  
Ali Kassab ◽  
Gerhard A. Holzapfel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
Mechanical Characterization ◽  
Viscoelastic Behavior ◽  
Material Model ◽  
Suitable Material ◽  
Dynamic Mechanical

Experimental data and a suitable material model for human aortas with smooth muscle activation are not available in the literature despite the need for developing advanced grafts; the present study closes this gap. Mechanical characterization of human descending thoracic aortas was performed with and without vascular smooth muscle (VSM) activation. Specimens were taken from 13 heart-beating donors. The aortic segments were cooled in Belzer UW solution during transport and tested within a few hours after explantation. VSM activation was achieved through the use of potassium depolarization and noradrenaline as vasoactive agents. In addition to isometric activation experiments, the quasistatic passive and active stress–strain curves were obtained for circumferential and longitudinal strips of the aortic material. This characterization made it possible to create an original mechanical model of the active aortic material that accurately fits the experimental data. The dynamic mechanical characterization was executed using cyclic strain at different frequencies of physiological interest. An initial prestretch, which corresponded to the physiological conditions, was applied before cyclic loading. Dynamic tests made it possible to identify the differences in the viscoelastic behavior of the passive and active tissue. This work illustrates the importance of VSM activation for the static and dynamic mechanical response of human aortas. Most importantly, this study provides material data and a material model for the development of a future generation of active aortic grafts that mimic natural behavior and help regulate blood pressure.

scholarly journals Visco-Hyperelastic Characterization of the Equine Immature Zona Pellucida

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1223
Author(s):  
Elisa Ficarella ◽  
Mohammad Minooei ◽  
Lorenzo Santoro ◽  
Elisabetta Toma ◽  
Bartolomeo Trentadue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Soft Matter ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
Mechanical Characterization ◽  
Nonlinear Material ◽  
Prony Series ◽  
Critical Comparison ◽  
Highly Nonlinear ◽  
Good Agreement

This article presents a very detailed study on the mechanical characterization of a highly nonlinear material, the immature equine zona pellucida (ZP) membrane. The ZP is modeled as a visco-hyperelastic soft matter. The Arruda–Boyce constitutive equation and the two-term Prony series are identified as the most suitable models for describing the hyperelastic and viscous components, respectively, of the ZP’s mechanical response. Material properties are identified via inverse analysis based on nonlinear optimization which fits nanoindentation curves recorded at different rates. The suitability of the proposed approach is fully demonstrated by the very good agreement between AFM data and numerically reconstructed force–indentation curves. A critical comparison of mechanical behavior of two immature ZP membranes (i.e., equine and porcine ZPs) is also carried out considering the information on the structure of these materials available from electron microscopy investigations documented in the literature.

Unstable radii in muscular blood vessels

1996 ◽  
Vol 271 (6) ◽  
pp. H2669-H2676 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. Quick ◽  
H. L. Baldick ◽  
N. Safabakhsh ◽  
T. J. Lenihan ◽  
J. K. Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Critical Level ◽  
Active Tension ◽  
Wall Tension ◽  
Equilibrium Pressure ◽  
Variable Level ◽  
Parabolic Function ◽  
Maximal Pressure

A model of a muscular blood vessel in equilibrium that predicts stable and unstable control of radius is presented. The equilibrium wall tension is modeled as the sum of a passive exponential function of radius and an active parabolic function of radius. The magnitude of the active tension is varied to simulate the variable level of smooth muscle activation. This tension-radius relationship is then converted to an equilibrium pressure-radius relationship via Laplace's law. This model predicts the traditional ability to control the radius below a critical level of activation. However, when the active tension is raised above this critical level, the pressure-radius relationship (with pressure plotted on the ordinate and radius on the abscissa) becomes N shaped with a relative maximal pressure (Pmax) and a relative minimal pressure (Pmin). For this N-shaped curve, there are three equilibrium radii for any pressure between Pmin and Pmax. Analysis shows that the middle radius is unstable and thus cannot be maintained at equilibrium. Previously unexplained experimental data reveal evidence of this instability.

scholarly journals Mechanical Characterization of Nanocomposite Joints Based on Biomedical Grade Polyethylene under Cyclical Loads

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 2681
Author(s):  
Annamaria Visco ◽  
Cristina Scolaro ◽  
Antonino Quattrocchi ◽  
Roberto Montanini
Keyword(s):  
Titanium Dioxide ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
Mechanical Characterization ◽  
Laser Light ◽  
Mechanical Tests ◽  
Fatigue Tests ◽  
Weight Content ◽  
Percentage Weight ◽  
Static Mechanical

Polymeric joints, made of biomedical polyethylene (UHMWPE) nanocomposite sheets, were welded with a diode laser. Since polyethylene does not absorb laser light, nanocomposites were prepared containing different percentages by weight of titanium dioxide as it is a laser absorbent. The joints were first analyzed with static mechanical tests to establish the best percentage weight content of filler that had the best mechanical response. Then, the nanocomposites containing 1 wt% titanium dioxide were selected (white color) to be subjected to fatigue tests. The experimental results were also compared with those obtained on UMMWPE with a different laser light absorbent nano filler (carbon, with greater laser absorbing power, gray in color), already studied by our research team. The results showed that the two types of joints had an appreciable resistance to fatigue, depending on the various loads imposed. Therefore, they can be chosen in different applications of UHMWPE, depending on the stresses imposed during their use.

Thermal and dynamic-mechanical characterization of rice-husk filled polypropylene composites

2009 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone M. L. Rosa ◽  
Sônia M. B. Nachtigall ◽  
Carlos A. Ferreira
Keyword(s):  
Rice Husk ◽  
Mechanical Characterization ◽  
Polypropylene Composites ◽  
Dynamic Mechanical

Comparing Predictive Accuracy and Computational Costs for Viscoelastic Modeling of Spinal Cord Tissues

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole L. Ramo ◽  
Kevin L. Troyer ◽  
Christian M. Puttlitz
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
Predictive Accuracy ◽  
Material Model ◽  
Loading Conditions ◽  
Nonlinear Viscoelastic ◽  
Arbitrary Loading ◽  
Linear Viscoelastic ◽  
Viscoelastic Modeling

Abstract The constitutive equation used to characterize and model spinal tissues can significantly influence the conclusions from experimental and computational studies. Therefore, researchers must make critical judgments regarding the balance of computational efficiency and predictive accuracy necessary for their purposes. The objective of this study is to quantitatively compare the fitting and prediction accuracy of linear viscoelastic (LV), quasi-linear viscoelastic (QLV), and (fully) nonlinear viscoelastic (NLV) modeling of spinal-cord-pia-arachnoid-construct (SCPC), isolated cord parenchyma, and isolated pia-arachnoid-complex (PAC) mechanics in order to better inform these judgements. Experimental data collected during dynamic cyclic testing of each tissue condition were used to fit each viscoelastic formulation. These fitted models were then used to predict independent experimental data from stress-relaxation testing. Relative fitting accuracy was found not to directly reflect relative predictive accuracy, emphasizing the need for material model validation through predictions of independent data. For the SCPC and isolated cord, the NLV formulation best predicted the mechanical response to arbitrary loading conditions, but required significantly greater computational run time. The mechanical response of the PAC under arbitrary loading conditions was best predicted by the QLV formulation.

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